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Overview

The First Christmas: A Changing-Picture Book by Sophy Williams

Experience the wonder of the very first Christmas with this magical changing-picture book.

The classic Christmas nativity story is stunningly illustrated by evocative pastel artwork depicting angels, shepherds, and wise men arriving in Bethlehem to share the magic of the birth of Jesus. Lift the gatefold flaps to change the pictures and watch the story unfold along the way.

Product Details

About the Author

Sophy Williams lives in Wiltshire, England, with her husband, Mark Robertson (also an illustrator), her two lively sons, Oscar and Leo, and a scraggy black cat. Some of Sophy’s childhood was spent living in Singapore, Hong Kong, and the Middle East, and her illustrations are often influenced by these far-flung locations.

Editorial Reviews

K Up—This lovely presentation of the Nativity story includes four "changing-pictures," which are created by overlaying two images divided into vertical slats. In this case, the images change when a flap is opened. Williams's pastel illustrations are both luminous and child-centric, conveying a sense of mystery, awe, and gentle humor. One of the strengths is the work of the unnamed adaptor, who tells the story in an accessible voice. While many toy-movable books aren't appropriate for a library setting, this one is sturdier than most, and could be used in a religious holiday program.—Mara Alpert, Los Angeles Public Library

School Library Journal

Opening the cover of this large-format book printed on heavy cardstock leads to a surprise: The circular illustration under a die-cut window in the cover changes from a view of the Christ Child in the manger to a close-up of the Three Wise Men. Every other spread throughout the volume uses a similar format, with a gatefold flap on the right edge that opens to make a circular inset change to a related illustration that advances the narrative. The pleasing illustrations in soft-focus pastels provide a traditional interpretation of the Nativity story, with glowing jewel tones and shimmering light from the special star. The text is smoothly retold in contemporary language, although the level of difficulty of the text is not in alignment with the movable-picture feature and cardstock pages, which imply a preschool-aged audience. (Picture book/religion. 2-8)